"I'm fine, The meeting at the bank went, well, we'll talk about that, a lot," Barnabas explained. "What was that about a chink?"

"Oh, no, that was Charlie Fa, of all people, he and Mr. Crabbe apparently parted ways."  She shook her head.  "Something about Mr. Crabbe visiting relations.  But imagine!  Seeing someone here from home.  It really is a small world!"  Not that she thought to explain how their paths had crossed.

"How about we have dinner, talk a bit, and then make some plans about heading home?"

"I think that sounds wonderful!" Emeline declared with a languid smile.  Belatedly, she realized that her sleeves were still rolled up, and as she tugged them down, she commented, "I had a wonderful afternoon, but now I'm all tired and hungry and happy all at once, and I love you so much!"  With a sigh, she leaned against him, soaking in the feel of being in his arms.

Yet they stood looking down at Six Mile Canyon as dusk began to fall. "I hope you remember all of this love. All of our time on the trail, and all that we have been able to do. There's way more in front of us, I can tell you that for certain."

"Every second of every day."  Her small hand curled into his.  "I won't forget any of this, it's all so much more than I could have ever imagined, and I'm so happy.  There is so much good ahead for us, despite what Charlie Fa might think."

As they stood Barbabas said; "Have you ever heard the phrase 'the world is your oyster?' It would seem that it would certainly apply to us." He  Paused.

"Charlie Fa you say. Here in Virginia City? Who would have thought? I guess 'visiting his relatives is Chinese for dead. I'm sure he knows that." He put his arm around her and drew her even closer to him. "I can't say what the future holds, or what it will be for you and me, but you will never have to worry about anything. Ever," Emphasis on ever. "What has happened today may have changed a whole lot of things for us. But what say we step inside and see about supper? The food here is extraordinary as you will see when you read the menu."

And with that, he guided her into the hotel and then the dining room where a Maitre'd greeted them with a warm smile and led them to a table presting Barnabas with the wine list. Barnabas looked up at him and said; "You very best champagne."

"Have you ever heard the phrase 'the world is your oyster?' It would seem that it would certainly apply to us." He Paused.

"I've never had oysters," Emeline commented, grinning, "but I hear they are slimy...and have an interesting trait!"  She hooked her arm into Barnabas', strolling inside with him.  She didn't know if the aphrodisiac tales were true, but...

"Charlie Fa you say. Here in Virginia City? Who would have thought? I guess 'visiting his relatives is Chinese for dead. I'm sure he knows that."

"Oh!  I didn't know that."  So, Mr. Crabbe was dead?  She wondered what may have happened, and it suddenly seemed like they'd been away for years and not just weeks!  "That's sad.  I hope Miss Brigit is all right."

He put his arm around her and drew her even closer to him. "I can't say what the future holds, or what it will be for you and me, but you will never have to worry about anything. Ever," Emphasis on ever. "What has happened today may have changed a whole lot of things for us. But what say we step inside and see about supper? The food here is extraordinary as you will see when you read the menu."

"Yes...all right..."  Emeline felt her heart beating faster, wondering what, exactly, that meant.  They already knew that they were 'set', with enough resources to get by, even if something went wrong, but from the way he was talking, it was far more than that, and that thought took her breath away.

And with that, he guided her into the hotel and then the dining room where a Maitre'd greeted them with a warm smile and led them to a table presting Barnabas with the wine list. Barnabas looked up at him and said; "Your very best champagne."

Sitting in the chair Barnabas held for her, Emeline realized that she was a little rumpled, but apparently that was another perk of having money, no one cared much about things like that.  "Do you have oysters?" she asked with a grin.

"Yes, we do Ma'am, fresh from San Francisco." He smiled, "I'm the wine steward, you waiter will be along shortly. With that, he turned and walked away.

Barnabas looked at her long moment, "What I'm about to say hardly seems believable, well, for folks like us. Anyway, Well Fargo told me and gave it to me in writing, with the transfer of the two hundred fifty, we are now worth a million dollars." He sat back and looked at her. "It's sitting in Helena."

@Bongo

For a very long moment, Emeline just stared at him, wondering if maybe her 'treatment' had somehow clouded her perception, or maybe tainted her hearing?  Could be she was still back at the shack in Chinatown, dreaming along with the others there?

"A million?" she whispered, looking over at Barnabas.  It was almost incomprehensible.  And the possibilities were endless, and she wasn't thinking about an opulent home and fancy clothes.  And it wasn't something they needed tp, or even could, decide all at once.

"So, um..." she grinned, "I guess we can afford oysters?"

"Yes Ma'am," He smiled, "Oysters, what is it? Oh, om te half shell, I believe, and just about anything else your heart desires." Barnabas looked across at Em, the world was their oyster, the whole world and everything in it. He would need to do some things, make some arrangements about the money, but it was there, and thankfully the biggest bank in Helena. "One thing I know for sure, Em, we can and should do a lot of good with the money. There are places we can help out, things that need doing that we can help with without worrying about providing for the kids' education, which means the finest schools for them.

The idea that they could solve Kalispell's problems crossed his mind, but were they his to solve, or the citizens of Kalispell? And then he realized, they had their own problems that would need taking care of before they could be of help to anyone else. A ranch to run, payroll for the hands, and investments to be made because they could, and should. 

"This deal is gonna be a bit complicated at first, but I reckon we'll get the hang of it." He admitted. Just then the waiter approached the table.

"Dinner?" He asked

@Bongo

@Bongo

"Of course we'll take our time, but it's good to know we can see to what we need to without worrying."  Often, she'd had projects of varying urgency that she'd had to prioritize or set off because of funding, but that wouldn't be a problem for them, and that was a concept she could embrace, although it might take some getting used to.

She looked up at the waiter with a smile.  "Of course, dinner...starting with oysters."  She wasn't sure how they might be cooked, it wasn't something she'd ever considered.  "And...do you have duck in orange sauce?  Or..." she was trying to think of things she'd heard about, but didn't really have access to, "beef wellington?"

"Oh, yeah, a steak an' just a baked potato if you have it. Medium rare." To tell the truth, he really wasn't all that hungry. 

"Thank you, sir, Madame, your orders should be out very soon." The waiter said and dashed off.

"So, I know that I had promised you a mine tour and countless other things," He took a breath and exhaled heavily, "I think we should be heading home. In fact, come daylight I believe we need to be shut of this place, catch the V&T, get off this hill, and head north, the fastest way possible. I'm sorry, but I'm now uncomfortable, part of it is the money belt around my waist, partly I can't put my finger on it, but we should be heading home."

He had not mentioned the belt before, as he had not had one on, but very quietly he had withdrawn two thousand dollars, and th bank provided the belt and a room to put it on. Traveling money.

@Bongo

"Of course, whatever you like."  Emeline could see that he was troubled by something, and perhaps that was as simple as being away from home for so long, and honestly, she couldn't say that she would mind getting back.  "I'm actually anxious to see what progress has been made on the property, and how the cafe is doing...how Clara is."

There really was a great deal that she missed back home, and she wanted to see the house, and to be there before the horses and cattle arrived so she could get things set up...

"There are mines around Kalispell, I can tour one of those if I've a mind, so don't worry about that."  Reaching across the table, she gave his hand a squeeze.  "So long as I'm with you, I don't care where we go, so whatever you want, I'm fine." 

"Danged but you're a good woman!" He exclaimed, "Not 'cuz you're so agreeable, but because you understand, maybe not any more than I do about this seeming need to get back, but that you can sense our need to be home. And yes, before the herd and the help arrive." He let out a breath of relief.

"So, love, we'll pack and clear out come morning, hire a driver to get us and the luggage to Carson City, from there we'll make connection north as far as the rails will take us, then, well, we'll hire, or buy a wagon and team to get us the rest of the way. How's that sound?" He asked, honestly for her opinion of his plan, although generally, the man made the plans and the women and children simply went along. Not the way he and Em worked.

Just then, dinner arrived.